Making metallic oxids.



I. J. VOLLKOMMER.

MAKING METALLIC OXIDS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.26. I916.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

WITNESSES INVENTOR Tkeodore I Vollkommev 7 1/15 ATTORNEY STATES PATNT orrucE.

' THEODORE J. VOLLKOMMER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAKING METALLIC OXIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

Application filed December 26, 1916. Serial No. 138,953.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE J. VoLLa KOMMER, a resident of Pittsburgh in the county of Allegheny andSta-te of liennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Making Metallic Oxid's',kof which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to a method and to pass through the bottom or' hearth and through the bath of metal contained thereon, whereby the oxygen of the oxidizing gas will oxidize said metaland preferably at the same time directing lasts of the oxidizing gas, such as air, against. the surface of the molten bath on the hearth, whereby further metal is oxidized, or in the event section, somewhat diagrammatic, through a I furnace suitable for carrying out the invention.

As shown in the drawings, a preferred form of the furnace comprises a suitable hearth or bottom 1 for the furnace chamber 2 which is formed by said bottom and the side walls 3 and'roof or top 4. This entire furnace is surrounded by a chamber 5 formed by intermediate side walls 6, top or roof 7, and bottom 8, and this in turn is surrounded by another chamber 9 formed by the same bottom 8, exterior side walls 10 and a roof 11. The hearth. orbottom 1 rests upon suitable supports 12 in a manner such that the space underneath the bottom 1 is in communication with the chamberv 5, which chamber is adapted to have supplied thereto an oxidizing gas, such as air, through a blast pipe 14 which will beconnected to any suitable air source. The hearth or bottom 1 is a porous or perforate plate. It can be formed from any suitable material, such as a filter plate, sufliciently porous to permit gases to pass therethrough, or of even denser substances, but in the latter event will be provided with very small perforations to rmit the gas to pass through the same,

ut not sufficiently large to permit molten metal to escape therethrough. A layer or bath of metal 15' to be oxidized in molten condition, is shown on the hearth or bottom -1, and 16 indicates a series of small openings through the side walls 3 leading from the exterior chamber 5 to the interior chamber 2, and preferably inclined, as shown, so

as to directthe oxidizing gas against the surface of'the moltenv metal. The chamber 9 which entirely surrounds the furnace, 1s

merely a preheating chamber, and has commumcating therewith at suitable intervals which the furnace can be heated suiiiciently to start the reaction or to maintain the reaction after starting. Generally, however,-

furnish sufficient heat. 'The heating chamber 9 is connected-through flue 18 to a suitable stack. 7

The oxids which are formed are drawn from the chamber 2 through acentral top outlet 19 communicating with a lateral flue 20 leading to a suitable filter. At thev upper end of the vertical outlet 19 is a hopper or receptacle 21 controlled by a valve 22- through which the metal to be oxidized is' fed to the furnace in suitable quantities.

In using this apparatus, the furnace is heated by means of the burnersl17, a suflicient amount of metal to be oxidized being introduced into the chamber 2 from hopper 21 through valve 22, in sufficient quantity to form a thin shallow bathbfmolten metal .on the bottom 1. The oxidizing gas passes ..around the furnace, burners 17, by means of the porous bottom and also through the 9 blast orifices 16. The oxidizing gas, passing up through the porous bottom, ercolates through the molten metal, convertm it into an oxid. If the molten bath is su ciently shallow, the oxidation will be complete, and in that event it is not essential that additional air be admitted through ports 16, but in case the molten bath is quite deep, the

oxidation within the bath will not be per-- feet, but various prelin'iinary oxids will be formed, and in that event additional oxidizing gas coming through the blast openings 16 is necessary in order to complete the oxidation.

Actual use of the furnace in the manner described has demonstrated that the oxid which is formed is of very excellent quality, being a pure oxid of the metal used, and in the form of a very light impalpable powder, which is carried by the air passing from chamber 2 through the outlet 19 and flue- 20 to the filter. The oxidation takes place very rapidly and n0 labor is necessary other than merely to supply the necessary amount of metal from time to time, all of the other actions taking place entirely automatically within the furnace.

Heretofore, such oxids have been produced almost entirely on an open heart-h or furnace bottom by merely allowing the air to pass over the same, and scraping the film of oxid off the surface as rapidly as it forms. This old process requires constant scraping of the surface, as otherwise the film will protect the unoxidized metal underneath. The oxid so formed is not, however, so pure or of so light and fine a texture as that formed by the new method; and the scraping process frequently carries small particles of unoxidized metal with the oxid, resulting in trouble when the latter is used for such purposes as enameling, etc.

While I have described a form of my inyention comprising a closed furnace with surrounding closed spaces, and air heated by gas burners, and passed through the metal under pressure, I may use other forms of the appa atus, and other heating means. My invention is therefore not to be limited to the exact forms shown.

\Vhat I claim is 1. An apparatus for producingoxids of meta] comprising a furnace having a porous or perforate bottom and perforate side walls, a chamber surrounding said furnace and bottom, and means for introducing an oxidizing gas under pressure in said surrounding chamber.

2. An apparatus for producing oxids of metal comprising a furnace having a porous or perforate bottom and perforate side walls, a chamber surrounding said furnace and bottom, means for introducing an oxidizing gas under pressure in said surrounding chamber, and a heating chamber surrounding said furnace and provided with means for heating the entire furnace.

8. An apparatus for producing oxids of metal comprising a furnace having a porous or perforate bottom and perforate side walls, a chamber surrounding said furnace and bottom, means for introducing an-ox idizing gas under pressure in said surrounding chamber, a. charging hopper connected to the furnace, and an outlet flue for the oxids connected to said inner chamber.

In testimony whereof, I, have hereunto set my hand.

THEODORE J. VOLLKOMMER. Witnesses: GLENN H. LEREsoHE, A. E. JoHNsoN. 

